"Reformists ? How many ? 1% of the whole population ? "
Where do you get your numbers from? How many outspoken reformists were there in Poland under the Soviet system? Did that number represent the portion of the population who wanted to throw the Communists out?
Me: "And if that were so where are the Saudi Jihadists coming from? Where did Bin Laden come from?"
You: What do you mean ? Do you think that Saudi royal family send them ?
What did you mean when you claimed that the people will be deprived of oil revenues in SA, be impoverished, and be placated by - It's Allah's will. Which people? The Jihadists, the regime supporters, or the 1% you claim are reformists?
Me: "In which direction should the US try to push the regime?"
You: First situation in Iraq must be stabilized before US will start pushing anything in SA. Chaos in both states would be very danger.
You did not answer.
"to keep the lid on the radical fundamentalists in SA by keeping the present branch of the family in control."
Great. So the policy that failed and caused 9/11 is the same policy you are advocating now. That puts you in the camp with the likes of John Kerry and Ted Kennedy.
The answer is that without oil the Saudis are worth nothing to us. The question is what is their oil worth to us. The answer - much less than they would have you believe. And much less than the deference they are given by our government.
To me what is Saudi oil worth is a serious existential question.